Yesterday the directing elite gathered at the Beverly Hilton for a ceremony hosted by Kumail Nanjiani. Nanjiani kept the crowd laughing, famously joking that a room filled with so many directors, assistants, and production managers was “like if a movie was just the credits.”
The headline of the night was undoubtedly Paul Thomas Anderson. After three career nominations, Anderson finally won his first DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film. In a deeply moving acceptance speech, he dedicated the win to Adam Somner, his longtime assistant director who passed away in 2024.
Steven Spielberg, Sean Baker, Paul Thomas Anderson, winner of the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for “One Battle After Another,” Russell Hollander, National Executive Director, Directors Guild of America, and Christopher Nolan, President, Directors Guild of America, pose in the press room during the 78th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at The Beverly Hilton on February 07, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for DGA)
The win is a massive indicator for the upcoming 98th Academy Awards; in the 77-year history of the DGA, the winner has gone on to win the Best Director Oscar all but eight times. Anderson beat out a formidable field that included Ryan Coogler (Sinners), Chloé Zhao (Hamnet), Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme), and Guillermo del Toro (Frankenstein).
The 2026 DGA Winners List: Highlights
Theatrical & Documentary Film
- Theatrical Feature Film: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
- First-Time Theatrical Feature (The Michael Apted Award): Charlie Polinger, The Plague
- Documentary Feature: Mstyslav Chernov, 2000 Meters to Andriivka
Television Categories
The TV races saw a split between streaming giants and prestige cable, with HBO’s The Pitt and Apple TV+’s The Studio leading the pack.
- Dramatic Series: Amanda Marsalis, The Pitt
- Comedy Series: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, The Studio
- Limited Series & Anthology: Shannon Murphy, Dying for S*x
- Movies for Television: Stephen Chbosky, Nonnas
- Variety/Talk/News/Sports – Specials: Liz Patrick, SNL50: The Anniversary Special
The Oscar Implications
Paul Thomas Anderson accepts a Directors Guild of America Feature Film Medallion for “One Battle After Another” onstage during the 78th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at The Beverly Hilton on February 07, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for DGA)
With the Academy Awards just five weeks away, Paul Thomas Anderson is now the undeniable frontrunner for Best Director. Having already secured the Golden Globe and Critics Choice awards earlier this season, the DGA win serves as the “triple crown” of the directing circuit.
While Ryan Coogler’s Sinners remains a box-office behemoth and a strong contender for Best Picture, the Guild’s preference for Anderson’s sweeping craftsmanship suggests the industry is ready to finally give the There Will Be Blood director his long-overdue Oscar statue.
